This post covers things to do during October in Nashville, Tennessee.
We include family-friendly and free activities as well as evening entertainment and live music. updated for 2023.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER
This top 10 list has concerts, events, attractions, and festivals to check out in Music City during October.
For even more ideas, be sure to check out our master post on things to do in Nashville any time of year.
Don’t forget to check out our popular Nashville posts:
- Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
- Tourist Attraction Discount Passes
- Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Discounts
- Country Music Hall of Fame Discounts
- Madame Tussauds Nashville
1. Attend a Major Concert
If you’re looking for a concert, Music City is the place to find it.
Of course, in Nashville, you can find concerts happening every night of the week.
Concerts
- Drake | October 1st, 2nd
- Hozier | October 5th
- Jonas Brothers | October 9th
- Morrissey | October 15th
- Depeche Mode | October 19th
Musical Festivals
- Paradise Festival | October 12th-14th | Brooklyn Bowl | Feat: Briston Maroney, Sunflower Bean, Indigo De Souza, and more
Concert Venues
Check out all of the Nashville concerts here, or read our post What to do at Night in Nashville.
2. See a Sporting Event
Nashville is a competitive city that loves its sports!
October is a great time to catch a game since there are several teams playing during the month.
It is also an excellent way to spend the day with the family.
Football
Soccer
Basketball
Take a look at other sporting events happening in October here.
3. Theatre and Stand-Up Comedy
Music City isn’t just about concerts. You can usually find other stage productions in the city.
Musicals
- Wicked | October 11th-29th
Comedy
- Jimmy Carr | October 10th
- Russell Peters | October 14th
- Justin Willman | October 7th
Family-Friendly
- Ghost Files Live | October 26th
Find all of the theatre and performance arts in Nashville here.
4. Take a Sightseeing Tour
October means pleasant, crisp weather - perfect for exploring the town.
Downtown Nashville is easily walkable, and we suggest starting your trip with a walking tour, whether you take a pay-what-you-like tour or lead yourself on our self-guided walking tour.
Another popular option is to take a bus tour of Nashville.
A hop-on hop-off tour is a convenient form of transportation as well as a great source of insider information on Music City.
You can also find fun specialty tours such as a comedy bus tour or party bus.
Don’t forget to celebrate Halloween with the kid-friendly Ghost Tour at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage after hours.
5. See Nashville’s Top Attractions
Taking a trip to Nashville in October is the perfect opportunity to see the city’s top attractions with less crowding than during the busy season of summer.
History buffs will enjoy Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. Music lovers can tour the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame.
We've listed some great opportunities to find live music on our post covering things to do at night, as well.
Families with kids, or those who enjoy Music City’s celebrities can visit Madame Tussauds Nashville. We have plenty of suggestions for other things to do with your kids here, too.
If you're on a budget, check out our free activities in Nashville post.
6. Attend A Film Festival
2023 brings the 54th annual Nashville Film Festival to Nashville from September 28th - October 4th.
In addition to a celebration of all things film, there will be more than 125 screenings, panel discussions, Q&A music, and more.
Events take place at the Belcourt Theater and the Andrew Johnson Theater at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
For tickets and additional information, visit the website.
7. Celebrate the Nashville Cultural Festival
Approximately 1 in 6 Nashville residents are foreign-born, which means there are a lot of different cultures within the city to be celebrated.
The free Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival is held on October 7th in Centennial Park.
You’ll be able to enjoy music and dance performances on multiple stages throughout the day.
The Children's Area encourages kids from different backgrounds to play together with educational games, performances, and fun activities.
Younger visitors won’t have a chance to get bored from the Teen’s Area with dance performances and displays of information about how teenagers of other cultures incorporate that into their lives in Nashville.
While the festival itself is free, you might want to bring money with you if you plan on enjoying the World Market vendors or the beer and food vendors that will be set up all day.
If you’re looking for more budget-friendly activities, check out our free things to do post.
Visitors with kids can also find things to do in our family-friendly activities post.
9. Have a Scary Halloween
Nashville has several annual haunted houses, parties, and celebrations during most of October.
If you’re not in Music City during Halloween festivities you can still take a haunted pub crawl to visit local bars and hear spooky stories.
If you get a thrill at intense haunted houses, go to the popular Nashville Nightmare or Nashville Haunted Hayride.
They’re generally open from the very end of September through Halloween.
They do recommend that all visitors are 13 or older due to the intensity of the experience.
Looking for more nighttime activities in Nashville? Check out our full evening entertainment post.
9. Go to a Pumpkin Patch
If there's one family activity you can always count on, it's going to the pumpkin patch to find the best pumpkin for carving.
In addition to the pumpkins, these farms usually also have several other activities to enjoy such as trains, corn mazes, petting farms, and more.
Here are a few of the best pumpkin patches near Nashville:
- Honeysuckle Hill Farm
- Lucky Ladd Farms
- Shuckle's Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
- Walden Pumpkin Farm
- Bottom View Farm
- And more!
Check this master list of pumpkin patches for even more options in central Tennessee.
10. Nashville Oktoberfest
If you enjoy beer, music, and Bavarian culture, don’t miss Nashville’s Oktoberfest. It covers 10 blocks and has been running for over 40 years.
You’ll find delicious food vendors with German food, high-quality local breweries, art vendors, and more than one stage offering live German music.
As if that weren’t enough, there will be a parade through downtown Nashville with people dressed in their finest dirndl and lederhosen after the hilariously adorable Dachshund Derby.
This event will be taking place between October 5th and 8th.
Click here for tickets and more info.
11. Save Money with a Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
If you’re looking to see multiple major attractions, such as the Country Music Hall of Fame, Studio B, or take any tours, we suggest using a tourist city pass to save money.
Some passes can offer up to 55% retail-price discounts for restaurants, souvenir shops, and attraction tickets.
Featured on Various Passes:
- Madame Tussauds
- Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
- Hop-On-Hop-Off Tours
- Hard Rock Cafe
See our full tourist attraction discount pass comparison here.
12. BOOze at the Zoo
The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is the perfect place for Halloween festivities!
BOOze at Zoo is a Halloween event full of food, drinks, and activities for those aged 21+.
There will be a Trick-or-Treat trail, a carousel and zip-line rides, adult beverages, food trucks, and a costume contest.
The 2023 date hasn't been released at the time of this post, so keep an eye on the website for updates.
For additional information about visiting the zoo, read our post on Nashville Zoo Discounts and Coupons.
13. Other Events
There are a few other events and festivals you won't want to miss.
- Tennessee Craft Week | October 6th-15th | various locations
- Southern Festival of Books | October 21st-22nd | various locations
- Artober Nashville | Dates TBD | Various locations
- Tennessee Beer and Wine Festival | October 21st | Two Rivers Mansion
RELATED POSTS :
- Things to do in Nashville any time of year
- Family-Friendly Activities
- Things to Do at Night
- Free Things to Do in Nashville
- Nashville Walking Tours
- Luggage Storage in Nashville
